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Home , Chewaucan River, Crane Mountain, Delphinium depauperatum, Erigeron glacialis, Fremont National Forest, Leptosiphon nuttallii

Oregon , Places: Gearhart Mountain Wilderness

Ron Larson 6527 Climax Ave. Klamath Falls, OR 97603

earhart Mountain, a inches, measured at 7,000 ft. broad-shouldered elevation on the mountain. Ggiant on the border Although this is likely excep- between Klamath and Lake tional, it emphasizes the import- counties, lures me each July to ance of snow in the water bud- explore the pristine meadows get of the mountain. Snow covers located on its east flank, seeking most of higher terrain from Nov- further discoveries among the ember to June, and in heavy abundant wildflowers. Gearhart snowfall years, some small drifts Mountain, located about 12 last through summer and fall. As miles northeast of Bly, forms a consequence, springs, seeps, part of the watershed boundary wet meadows, and other between the Klamath and wetlands are plentiful at the Chewaucan drainages. It lies higher elevations. The basin within the Fremont-Winema formed by Dairy Creek Cirque National Forest. Higher areas of on the east side of the mountain the mountain (above 6,300 ft.) has the highest concentration of received wilderness designation meadows. These start at about in 1964, with additional lands 7,600 ft. and continue down added in 1984, bringing the slope for about a mile. current Wilderness total to 22,800 acres. The mountain was Geology and Soils named for the Gearhart family, local ranchers who lived in the Gearhart is a Miocene shield area in the 1870s (McArthur volcano composed of numerous 1982). During WWII the low-viscosity lava flows that Mitchell family was picnicking extend outwards about ten miles near the southern base of the Palisade Rocks consist of porphyritic lava rock weathered into a variety of from the mountain. (Newberry mountain. They died when a fascinating shapes. Photo taken at 6,500 feet elevation by Ron Larson. Crater, south of Bend is also a Japanese fire balloon, designed shield volcano, and other shield to ignite West Coast forests, exploded when they touched it. A volcanoes occur in the area just east of the Cascades from northern monument now stands near the site of the accident. to Washington.) On Gearhart Mountain, this gray, Situated between two physiographic provinces (Cascade igneous, porphyritic rock forms prominent outcrops and Mountains, Basin and Range), Gearhart Mountain provides an formations, some over 300 feet high. Their characteristic platy, opportunity to investigate how its flora has been affected by these slate-like fracture creates conspicuous rock formations, many of two large floristic regions. At 8,364 ft, Gearhart is the highest peak which are named; for example, Haystack Rock, The Dome, in south-central Oregon between the Cascade and Warner Moun- Lookout Rock, and Palisade Rocks. tains. The nearest peaks of similar height are Yamsey (8,196 ft.) Powerful erosional forces, especially glaciers, have carved about 40 miles to the northwest, and Drake (8,407 ft.) about 40 prominent valleys that dominate the terrane on the north and miles to the east. The Cascades lie about 75 miles to the west. east sides. Well preserved moraine loops occur at distances of Taylor and Hannan (1999) place Gearhart Mountain in the two to three miles from cirque headwalls on the northeast side of “High Plateau” climate zone, which has a short growing season, the mountain (Osborn and Beavis 2001). The Dairy Creek Cirque subject to frost throughout the year. In Klamath County, annual is two miles wide. Dairy Creek flows into the , precipitation averages 37 inches, with about 80 percent falling which drains into . Lake Abert basin lacks external between October and March. Average minimum temperatures drainage and some geographers consider it part of the . for January are 15º F. Because of its height and size, precipitation Near-vertical cliffs of the massive headwall of the Dairy Creek rates on Gearhart are relatively high for the region east of the Cirque rise over 300 feet high. The headwall has eroded through Cascades. The Forest Service reports a record snow depth of 100 on the west, forming a prominent cliff that can be seen from a

Kalmiopsis Volume 14, 2007 17 Gearhart Mountain Wilderness

Map of Gearhart Mountain Wilderness showing Lookout Rock Trail, Palisade Rocks, and Dairy Creek Cirque in the southern part. Gearhart Mountain is located off Highway 140 about 50 miles ENE of Klamath Falls and 35 miles NW of Lakeview. Topographic map created using TOPO!® ©1998 Wildflower Productions, www.topo.com. Vicinity inset map from USFS website.

18 Kalmiopsis Volume 14, 2007 great distance. Prominent talus slopes and slide debris occur below Lookout Rock Trail enters the wilderness in a parkland of widely the cliffs. Other cirques and valleys occur around the mountain. scattered mature white fir and ponderosa pine. The yellowish wolf At the higher elevations, soils are poorly developed and contain lichen (Letharia vulpina) grows as an epiphyte on the bark of the a high fraction of volcanic ash and rock; lower sites have sandy firs, except near the base of the trees for about three to four feet, loam soils (Hopkins 1979). Habitats on the mountain vary by apparently marking the normal depth of winter snow. The forest elevation, aspect, soils, moisture, presence of exposed rock, and understory consists of creeping snowberry (Symphoricarpos mollis), other factors. Glacial activity on the north and east sides of the western hawkweed (Hieracium scouleri), bottlebrush squirreltail mountain has contributed to habitat diversity, especially by (Elymus elymoides), bitter dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium), gouging basins that trap fine sediments and water, thus creating Nuttall’s linanthus ( nuttallii), pinemat manzanita wetlands. The south and west aspects are warmer and drier than (Arctostaphylos nevadensis), pinedrops (Pterospora andromedea), the east and north slopes, and these differences are reflected in kelloggia (Kelloggia galioides), silverleaf phacelia (Phacelia hastata), the cover. Coniferous forests cover most of the mountain, waterleaf phacelia (P. hydrophylloides), bracken (Pteridium except were soils are saturated or the substrate is primarily rock. aquilinum), creeping Oregon grape (Berberis repens), wax currant (Ribes cereum) and sticky currant (R. viscosissimum). Colorful scarlet Plant Collections and Trail Access gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata) occurs in open, sunny sites where rufous hummingbirds are attracted to its nectar. According to records at Oregon State University Herbarium, At about 6,500 ft. elevation, prominent sculpted rock outcrops about 250 sheets have been collected from Gearhart Mountain, have been named Palisade Rocks. Here, among the stunted representing 166 plant species. Major collections were made by ponderosa pines that grow from cracks in the rocks or from John Leiberg in 1896, Lincoln Constance in 1928, May Loveless pockets of soil, I found a single whitebark pine. The pines are in 1931, and Virginia Crosby, Lakeview BLM botanist, in 1976 joined by an assortment of drought tolerant shrubs, including and 1979. I have been making observations since 1998. mountain spray (Holodiscus dumosus), curl-leaf mountain Most plant collections, including my own observations, have mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius), rubber rabbitbrush (Ericameria been from near Trail 100, which starts at the wilderness boundary nauseosa), and bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata). Also finding on the south side of the mountain near the Corral Creek refuge in the rock crevices are roundleaf alumroot (Heuchera campground and Finley Corrals. From the trailhead at 6,300 ft., cylindrica), hotrock penstemon (Penstemon deustus), and western this trail ascends for 5 miles to 8,000 feet, before descending to boneset (Ageratina occidentalis). In the seasonally dry gravel and 7,500 ft. in the Dairy Creek Cirque basin. From there it continues sandy soils at Palisade Rocks I have found mountain and prickly north for a total distance of 11 miles. To access the west side of sandworts (Arenaria capillaris and A. aculeata), western hawkweed, the mountain, use Boulder Creek Trail 100A, which originates at wormleaf stonecrop (Sedum stenopetalum) and several buckwheats: 6,500 ft. A third trail, Lookout Rock, is accessed via a short spur sulphur flower (Eriogonum umbellatum), barestem (E. nudum), road (#012) off Forest Road 34, which is about a half mile north and broom (E. vimineum). Grasses include western needlegrass of Bly on Highway 140. (Achnatherum occidentale), California brome (Bromus carinatus),

Overview of Plant Communities

Lookout Rock Trail Forests of western (Juniperus occidentalis) and ponderosa pine () occupy the south and west slopes between 6,300 and 7,000 ft. elevation. A broad area of scabland with only scattered trees covers the southwest slope near the . In contrast, lodgepole pine () and white fir () dominate the north and east aspects. White fir extends onto the south and west sides, where it is joined by scattered ponderosa and sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana) up to about 7,000 feet, in what could be called the montane zone. Above this, in a subalpine zone, lodgepole pine and whitebark pine () Whitebark pine, flagged by the prevailing southwest wind, grow on the west side of Gearhart Mountain in the dominate, with the latter becoming subalpine zone, about 8,000 feet elevation. Mountain spray and mountain gooseberry grow protected by boulders. more prevalent above 7,500 ft. Discoid goldenweed, a rare Intermountain sub-shrub, also grows on these slopes. Photo by Ron Larson.

Kalmiopsis Volume 14, 2007 19 annual hairgrass (Deschampsia danthonioides), and bottlebrush glaucinus), an endemic on Oregon Natural Heritage Program squirreltail. (ONHP) list 1, grows with prickly sandwort under an open Beginning at about 7,000 feet, ground cover in the white fir canopy of whitebark pine in dry ashy soils. Green-tinged forest becomes more diverse and abundant. Dominant herbs in paintbrush (Castilleja chlorotica), another endemic on the ONHP this zone include western hawkweed, white flowered hawkweed list 1, grows on rocky ridges and in crevices along with mountain (Hieracium albiflorum), kelloggia, sticky chickweed (Pseudostellaria spray, mountain gooseberry (Ribes montigenum), roundleaf alum jamesiana), and several wintergreen species, including bog (Pyrola root, cutleaf daisy ( compositus), rock sword fern asarifolia), white vein (P. picta), and sidebells (Orthilia [Pyrola] (Polystichum scopulinum) and lace lipfern (Cheilanthes gracillima). secunda). Also found in this area are Nuttall’s linanthus, Oregon Common juniper (Juniperus communis var. ) forms sunshine (Eriophyllum lanatum), western valerian (Valeriana spreading mounds. I found two ponderosa pine trees on the south occidentalis), and mint (Monardella odoratissima). slope at 8,000 feet: their twisted and broken limbs provide a At about 7,500 feet, stands of quaking aspen (Populus testament to the strong winds that buffet the mountain. At this tremuloides) appear at small seeps and springs, along with a variety elevation, powerful desiccating winds blast the whitebark pine of wetland herbs, including red columbine (Aquilegia formosa), with ice crystals, creating a flagged growth form with supple limbs Columbia monkshood (Aconitum columbianum), western red oriented away from the prevailing southwest winds. baneberry (Actaea rubra), Gray’s lovage (Ligusticum grayii), sweet cicely (Osmorhiza berteroi), ranger’s buttons (Sphenosciadium capitellatum), Bolander’s tarweed (Kyhosia bolanderi), California false hellebore (Veratrum californicum). On seasonally moist slopes below rocky cliffs, such as at The Dome, patches of blue stickseed (Hackelia micrantha) and the strongly aromatic nettle-leaved horsemint (Agastache urticifolia) occur. The pink-purple heads of the horse- mint attract a variety of butterflies and bees. Steep and exposed rocky ridges on the south slopes are dominated by low sagebrush (Artemisia arbuscula), mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana), coyote mint, curl- leaf mountain mahogany, common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus), woolly mule’s ears (Wyethia mollis), spreading phlox South-facing slopes (about 7,500 ft.) with gravelly soils are dominated by low sagebrush, mountain big sagebrush, (Phlox diffusa), and others. coyote mint, and sulphur flower buckwheat. “The Notch” visible in the distance was formed when two glaciers Sulphur flower buckwheat, coyote cut through the rock, creating a landform termed a “col.” Photo by Ron Larson. mint, and Bloomer’s goldenweed (Ericameria bloomeri) are abundant. Butterflies find flowers of The panoramic views from the crest of the Lookout Rock Trail latter two species especially attractive. At about 7,300 feet where and from the top of the mountain are stunning. One can see down the soil becomes heavily influenced by volcanic ash, whitebark to the meadows of the Dairy Creek Cirque, Winter Rim to the pine begins to replace the white fir. Above 7,700 feet white fir northeast, Dead Horse Rim and the to the becomes scarce and the trees are much smaller than at lower east, and Grizzly peaks to the southeast, the Sprague River elevations. Blue grouse are common in this zone and during July Valley to the south, and Mt. McLoughlin far in the distance to the one can hear the males hooting. southwest. As the trail passes over the narrow ridge at “The Notch,” Around 8,000 feet, ground cover becomes sparse, perhaps the aspect changes from south-facing to northeast-facing. Snow owing to changes in soils, which appear to consist mainly of persists into July in this sheltered, shady area and few vascular plants ash. Dominant herbs include small sedges, grow here except small whitebark pines, and two subalpine herbs, sandworts, Davidson’s penstemon (Penstemon davidsonii var. Davidson’s penstemon and alpine springbeauty (Claytonia davidsonii), sulphur flower buckwheat, spreading phlox, waterleaf megarhiza), which emerge from rock crevices. phacelia, coyote mint, Oregon catchfly (Silene oregana), western valerian, pinemat manzanita, Bloomer’s goldenweed, low sage, Boulder Creek Trail and bottlebrush squirreltail. Blue leaved penstemon (Penstemon Access to the west side of the mountain is from the Boulder Creek

20 Kalmiopsis Volume 14, 2007 and Parry’s arnicas (Arnica longifolia, A. mollis, and A. parryi). Orchids are represented by white bog orchid (Platanthera dilatata var. leucostachys), sparse flowered bog orchid (P. sparsi- flora), slender bog orchid (P. stricta), and hooded ladies tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana). Other wetland plants include subalpine daisy (Erigeron glacialis) [Note: new name for E. peregrinus var. callianthemus], black twinberry (Lonicera involucrata), alpine laurel (Kalmia microphylla), pink mountain heather (Phyllodoce empetriformis), meadow lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus), American bistort (Bistorta bistortoides), creeping sibbaldia (Sibbaldia procumbens), marsh marigold (Caltha leptosepala), alpine shooting star (Dodecatheon alpinum), primrose monkeyflower (Mimulus primuloides), elephant’s head (Pedicularis groenlandica), scarlet On the south slope at about 7,800 ft., ice-sculpted cliffs end in a community of snowbrush, mountain paintbrush (Castilleja miniata), and gooseberry, roundleaf alumroot, cutleaf daisy, rock sword fern, and lace lipfern. Mounds of common juniper grow above the cliff; whitebark pine below. Photo by Ron Larson. small white violet (Viola macloskeyi). Shrubs include bog birch (Betula Trail (#100A). The trailhead begins at 6,500 ft elevation off Forest glandulosa), and several unidentified (Salix spp.) and Road #018, and passes through lodgepole pine and white fir huckleberries (Vaccinium spp.). I have not yet identified the many stands. After 1.3 miles it reaches a large meadow rich in wildflowers and rimmed by aspens near the head of Boulder Creek at 7,500 ft. elevation. From here, it is a short one-third mile scramble up a steep talus slope to the highest point on the mountain. The flora along this trail shares many of the same species present along the Lookout Rock Trail. One notable exception is the presence of discoid goldenweed (Ericameria discoidea) at about 8,000 ft. on a dry, rocky slope. This low shrub is on ONHP list 4 and appears to be at its western-most location here. Because the Boulder Creek Trail gets less use, it can be hard to follow and therefore is not recommended for novice hikers.

Dairy Creek Cirque Numerous springs, seeps, pools and stream channels add diversity to a long meadow at about 7,600 feet just below the headwall and its talus slope in Dairy Creek Cirque. This area appears to have been a small tarn or glacier-formed lake, based on the presence of a low berm (probably a moraine) that likely formed a dam. Over time, the tarn filled with sediments and peat until only a series of pools and small streams remain. Other wet meadows are scattered across the upper part of the cirque basin and down slope for about a half mile. It is unlikely that these meadows have been grazed by cattle, and are among the highest elevation pristine meadows in this part of the state. These subalpine wetlands support an especially rich flora, although they represent a tiny fraction of the wilderness area. They contain about one-third of the species found in the Wilderness. In July, the meadows are especially colorful with a high diversity of From the top of the mountain at 8,300 ft., one can view the bowl-shaped wildflowers including alpine and arrowleaf groundsels (Packera cirque of Dairy Creek. Wet meadows appear as islands surrounded by subnuda [Senecio cymbalarioides] and S. triangularis), longleaf, hairy whitebark pine forests. Photo by Ron Larson.

Kalmiopsis Volume 14, 2007 21 species of sedges and rushes in the wetlands, but several species 67% in common) and (184 species or 74%). present in the Oregon State University Herbarium are in the This is despite the closer proximity of Gearhart Mountain to appended plant list. (70 miles) than to Steens Mountain (120 miles). The headwall of the Dairy Creek Cirque and associated talus When the floras are compared more closely the relationships and slopes support some species that are not found elsewhere in the differences becomes more apparent. Gearhart Mountain Wilderness, including American alpine lady fern (Athyrium Wilderness shares seven of eight coniferous species with Crater alpestre), Cascade parsley fern (Cryptogramma cascadensis), Brewer’s Lake National Park, but only three with Steens Mountain. cliff brake (Pellaea breweri), mountain sorrel (Oxyria digyna), Similarly, of the ten ericaceous plants (mostly small shrubs) in and the colorful rose willowherb (Epilobium obcordatum). High Gearhart Mountain Wilderness all are also present in Crater Lake overhead, I saw common juniper growing from ledges. National Park, but only three are found on Steens Mountain. Other groups indicate a greater affinity with Steens Mountain. Floristics An example is , which is represented by 36 species on Gearhart Mountain. Of these, 31 species (86%) also occur on Gearhart Mountain sits in the southern part of the East Slope Steens Mountain, while only 23 (64%) are shared with Crater Cascades Ecoregion, which runs the length of the state (from Lake. Some examples of species common to Gearhart and Steens north to south) and is widest in the southern part of Klamath mountains that are absent from Crater Lake are western juniper, County (Kagan et al. 2004). Anderson et al. (1998) place it in western boneset, bog birch, creeping Oregon grape, sticky the Mazama Ecological Province, which covers Deschutes County geranium, mountain gooseberry, nettle leaved horsemint, rose and the northern half of Klamath County, and a small portion of willowherb, alpine springbeauty, curl-leaf mountain mahogany, Lake County near Gearhart Mountain. Anderson et al. (1998) indicate that this province is typified by soils containing Mount Mazama ash. I compared the flora of Gearhart Mountain Wilderness with that of Crater Lake National Park (Zika 2003) and Steens Mountain (Mansfield 1999). I selected these floras because they are well known, lie at approxi- mately the same latitude in Oregon (between 42° and 43° North Latitude), and represent the southern Cascade Mountains and Intermountain floras, to which the Gearhart Mountain flora is most likely allied. Although the Gearhart Mountain Wilderness flora is incompletely studied, 250 species in 50 families have been identified. Once the monocots are better known, and plants from In Dairy Creek cirque, high cliffs and steep talus slopes merge downslope into wet meadows, ponds, and small creeks. lower elevations are included, this number will increase. Only two introduced plant species, roundleaf alumroot, yellow bell (Fritillaria pudica), and western common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and yellow salsify peony (). Another example is discoid goldenweed, (Tragopogon dubius), were observed and these were uncommon. which has a distribution limited to sites east of Gearhart Mountain Crater Lake and Steens Mountain share 119 of the 250 plant in Oregon (e.g., Steens Mountain and ). species (48%) that were found on Gearhart Mountain. Thus, Ten species present on Gearhart Mountain are unknown from many wide-ranging species are present in all three areas. However, either Crater Lake National Park or Steens Mountain, including about half (52%) of the species recorded on Gearhart Mountain, woolly mule’s ears, waterleaf phacelia, blue-leaved penstemon, were absent from either Crater Lake or Steens Mountain, mountain kittentails, and green-tinged paintbrush. Waterleaf indicating their floras are substantially different, which could be phacelia is a southern Cascadian species, but is not known to expected based on their locations and the lack of dispersal corridors occur in Crater Lake National Park. Blue leaved penstemon is for high elevation plants. endemic to high elevations of Klamath and Lake counties, but is The Gearhart Mountain flora shows an approximate equal absent in the Cascades. The range of woolly mule’s ears includes relationship with both Crater Lake National Park (167 species or the Cascade Mountains in California, Klamath Mountains in

22 Kalmiopsis Volume 14, 2007 Oregon and California, the Warner Mountains in Oregon and References California, and other areas in Klamath and Lake counties, Oregon, but does not include Crater Lake National Park. Mountain Anderson EW, Borman MM, Krueger WC. 1998. The ecological kittentails range from the Warner Mountains to eastern provinces of Oregon. Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station. Washington and Idaho. Green-tinged paintbrush is endemic to 132 p. Crook, Deschutes, Lake, and Klamath counties (see sidebar). My analysis indicates that Gearhart Mountain’s flora blends Cronquist A, Holmgren AH, Holmgren NH, Reveal JL. 1972. elements from each of the neighboring floristic provinces. Based Intermountain Flora: Vascular Plants of the Intermountain on the 250 species that have been recorded, the flora of Gearhart West. The New York Botanical Garden. 270 p. Mountain Wilderness shows greater affinity with floras to the east than with other regions. Cronquist et al. (1972) drew the Hickman JC, ed. 1993. The Jepson Manual: Higher Plants of western boundary of the Lake floristic section of the California. Berkeley (CA): University of California Press. 1400 p. Intermountain West only 15 miles east of Gearhart Mountain, so it is geographically very close to that region. Hopkins WE. 1979. Plant Associations of the . USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region. R6- ECOL-79-004. 106 p.

Horn EL. 2005. The Botanists at Crater Lake National Park. Kalmiopsis 12(2005): 30-36. Castilleja chlorotica Piper Kagan JS, Christy JA, Murray MP, Titus JA. 2004. Classification Green-tinged paintbrush is endemic to central Oregon: of Native Vegetation of Oregon. Oregon Natural Heritage the Eastern Cascades and Foothills ecoregion, from Cook Program. 51 p. and Deschutes counties south to Klamath and Lake counties (USDA Forest Service 2007). It is found in a Mansfield DH. 1999. Flora of Steens Mountain. Corvallis (OR): diversity of habitats, but mostly in forest openings on Oregon State University Press. 410 p. seasonally dry, south and west slopes, and summits from 4,300 to over 8,000 feet elevation, where soils are shallow, McArthur LA. 1982.Oregon Geographic Names. Oregon rocky, and often have a high content of volcanic ash. The Historical Society Press. 957 p. plants are typically about a foot tall, the foliage is sticky, and the leaves have a wavy margin. Although the overall Osborn G, Bevis K. 2001. Glaciation in the Great Basin of Western color is a bright green (hence its scientific and common United States. Quaternary Science Reviews 20:1377-1410. names), the stem and bracts can be tinted reddish or purple. It is the only green paintbrush in central Oregon. Piper CV. 1920. New Plants from the Pacific Northwest. Proc. A hemi-parasite of big sagebrush and bitterbrush, and Biol. Soc. Wash. 33:104-105. possibly other shrubs, green-tinged paintbrush obtains water and minerals from its deep-rooted hosts. Taylor GH, Hannan C. 1999. The Climate of Oregon, from Its heritage ranking is G3, owing to its rarity. All known Rainforest to Desert. Corvallis (OR): Oregon State University populations (~180) are on Federal lands with the majority Press. 211 p. on Fremont National Forest in Lake County (USDA Forest Service 2007). Some populations are quite large and the USDA Forest Service. 2007. Draft Conservation Assessment for Forest Service estimates that the total number of plants is Castilleja chlorotica. USDA Forest Service, Fremont-Winema ~0.5 million. It has three major areas of distribution: National Forest, Lakeview, Oregon. Gearhart Mountain and Winter Rim on Fremont National Forest, and Wake, Pistol, and Wagon buttes in Deschutes Walker S. 2000. John B. Leiberg 1853-1913, Northwest Botanist National Forest (USDA Forest Service 2007). and Forester. Oregon Flora Newsletter 6(2): 7-8. This species was first collected in 1896 near the summit of Gearhart Mountain by John Leiberg, a botanist Zika PF. 2003. Crater Lake National Park Vascular Plant who was collecting for the National Herbarium of the Checklist. Crater Lake (OR): Crater Lake Natural History Smithsonian Institution (Walker 2000). At the time, Association. 92 p. Leiberg was collecting in eastern Oregon with Fredrick Coville, who was Chief Botanist at National Herbarium. Vascular Plant List Later that summer Leiberg and Coville collected at Crater Lake National Park (Horn 2005). The holotype specimen Nomenclature follows the 2007 Oregon Flora Project checklist. (labeled “Gayhart Buttes”) is at the Smithsonian Names of taxa native to Oregon are printed in italic Garamond; Institution. It was described in 1920 by C.V. Piper. alien taxa are in italic Gill Sans, a sans-serif type. Species that have special Federal or State status are noted by an asterisk before the scientific name.

Kalmiopsis Volume 14, 2007 23 FERNS AND THEIR ALLIES APOCYNACEAE (Dogbane Family) DENNSTAEDTIACEAE (Bracken Family) Apocynum androsaemifolium L. (bitter dogbane) Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn (bracken) ASTERACEAE (Sunflower Family) DRYOPTERIDACEAE (Wood Fern Family) Achillea millefolium L. (yarrow) Athyrium alpestre (Hoppe) Clairv. (American alpine lady fern) Ageratina occidentalis (Hook.) R.M. King & H. Rob. (western Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Mert. (lady fern) boneset) Cystopteris fragilis (L.) Bernh. (brittle fern) Agoseris aurantiaca (Hook.) Greene (orange agoseris) Polystichum scopulinum (D.C. Eaton) Maxon (rock sword fern) Antennaria rosea Greene (rosy pussytoe) ISOETACEAE (Quillwort Family) Arnica cordifolia Hook. (heart leaf arnica) Isoetes bolanderi Engelm. (Bolander’s quillwort) Arnica longifolia D.C. Eaton (longleaf arnica) PTERIDACEAE (Brake Family) Arnica mollis Hook. (hairy arnica) Cheilanthes gracillima D.C. Eaton (lace lipfern) Arnica parryi A.Gray (Parry’s arnica) Cryptogramma cascadensis E.R. Alverson (Cascade parsley fern) Artemisia arbuscula Nutt. ssp. arbuscula (low sagebrush) Pellaea breweri D.C. Eaton (Brewer’s cliff brake) Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. vaseyana (Rydb.) Beetle (mountain big sagebrush) Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt. (arrowleaf balsamroot) Cirsium scariosum Nutt. (elk thistle) Crepis occidentalis Nutt. (western hawksbeard) Ericameria bloomeri (A. Gray) J.F. Macbr. (Bloomer’s goldenweed) *Ericameria discoidea (Nutt.) G.L. Nesom (discoid goldenweed) Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom & G.I. Baird (rubber rabbitbrush) Erigeron compositus Pursh (cutleaf daisy) Erigeron glacialis (Nutt.) A Nelson (subalpine daisy) Erigeron inornatus (A. Gray) (California rayless daisy) Eriophyllum lanatum (Pursh) J. Forbes var. achillaeoides (DC.) Jeps. (Oregon sunshine) Hieracium albiflorum Hook. (white flowered hawkweed) Hieracium scouleri Hook. (western hawkweed) Kyhosia (Madia) bolanderi (A. Gray) B.G. Baldwin (Bolander’s tarweed) Lace lipfern (Cheilanthes gracillima) fills rock crevices at Palisade Rocks and Madia exigua (Sm.) A. Gray (little tarweed) cliffs above 7,500 feet elevation on the south side of the mountain. Photo Microseris nutans (Hook.) Sch. Bip. (nodding microseris) by Ron Larson. Packera subnuda (DC.) Trock & T.M. Barkley [Senecio cymbalaroides] (alpine groundsel) Senecio fremontii var. exaltatus Torr. & A. Gray. (dwarf mountain GYMNOSPERMS groundsel) CUPRESSACEAE (Cypress Family) Senecio integerrimus Nutt. (common groundsel) Juniperus communis L. var. montana Ait. (common juniper) Senecio triangularis Hook. (arrowleaf groundsel) Juniperus occidentalis Hook. (western juniper) Solidago canadensis L. (Canada goldenrod) PINACEAE (Pine Family) Stephanomeria lactucina A. Gray (large flowered wirelettuce) Abies concolor (Gord. & Glend.) Lindl. ex Hildebr. (Sierra white fir) Symphyotrichum (Aster) ascendens (Lindl.) G.L. Nesom (long Pinus albicaulis Engelm. (whitebark pine) leafed aster) Pinus contorta Douglas ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm. (lodgepole Symphyotrichum (Aster) foliaceum (Lindl.) G.L. Nesom (leafy pine) bracted aster) Pinus lambertiana Douglas (sugar pine) Taraxacum officinale Weber ex F.H. Wigg. (common dandelion) Pinus monticola Douglas ex D. Don (western white pine) Tragopogon dubius Scop. (yellow salsify) Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex C. Lawson (ponderosa pine) Wyethia mollis A. Gray (woolly mule’s ears) BERBERIDACEAE (Barberry Family) DICOTYLEDONS Berberis repens Lindl. (creeping Oregon grape) APIACEAE (Carrot Family) BETULACEAE (Birch Family) Ligusticum grayi J.M. Coult. & Rose (Gray’s lovage) Alnus incana (L.) Moench ssp. tenuifolia (Nutt.) Breitung Lomatium triternatum (Pursh) J.M. Coult. & Rose (nineleaf (mountain alder) biscuitroot) Betula glandulosa Michx. (bog birch) Osmorhiza berteroi DC. (sweet cicely) BORAGINACEAE (Borage Family) Sanicula graveolens Poepp. (Sierra sanicle) Cryptantha ambigua (A. Gray) Greene (obscure cryptantha) Sphenosciadium capitellatum A. Gray (ranger’s buttons) Hackelia micrantha (Eastw.) J.L.Gentry (blue stickseed)

24 Kalmiopsis Volume 14, 2007 Mertensia ciliata (Torr.) G. Don. (broad leaved bluebells) Silene douglasii Hook. (Douglas’ catchfly) Mertensia longifolia (Nutt.) G. Don. (leafy bluebell) Silene oregana S. Watson (Oregon catchfly) Myosotis laxa Lehm. (small forget-me-not) CONVOLVULACEAE (Morning-glory Family) Plagiobothrys bracteatus (Howell) I.M. Johnst. (bracted Calystegia occidentalis ssp. occidentalis (A. Gray) Brummitt plagiobothrys) (western morning glory) BRASSICACEAE (Mustard Family) CRASSULACEAE (Stonecrop Family) Arabis drummondii A. Gray (Drummond’s rockcress) Sedum stenopetalum Pursh. spp. stenopetalum (wormleaf Arabis holboellii Hornem. (Holboell’s rockcress) stonecrop) Arabis lyallii S. Watson var. nubigena (J.F. Macbr. & Payson) ERICACEAE (Heath Family) Rollins (Lyall’s rockcress) Arctostaphylos nevadensis A. Gray (pinemat manzanita) Arabis platysperma A. Gray (flatseed rockcress) Arctostaphylos patula Greene (greenleaf manzanita) Arabis sparsiflora Nutt. var. sparsiflora (sicklepod rockcress) Chimaphila umbellata (L.) W. Bartram var. occidentalis (Rydb.) Barbarea orthoceras Ledeb. (American wintercress) S.F. Blake (prince’s pine) Cardamine cordifolia var. lyallii (S. Watson) A. Nelson & J.F. Kalmia microphylla (Hook.) A. Heller (alpine laurel) Macbr. (large mountain bittercress) Orthilia secunda (L.) House (side bells wintergreen) Descurainia incisa (Engelm. ex A. Gray) Britton (mountain tansy Phyllodoce empetriformis (Smith) D. Don (pink mountain heather) mustard) Pterospora andromedea Nutt. (pinedrops) Rorippa curvisiliqua (Hook.) Bessey ex Britton (curvepod yellowcress) Pyrola asarifolia Michx. (bog wintergreen) CAPRIFOLIACEAE (Honeysuckle Family) Pyrola picta Smith (white vein wintergreen) Lonicera involucrata (Rich.) Banks ex Spreng. var. involucrata Vaccinium cespitosum Michx. (dwarf huckleberry) (black twinberry) FABACEAE (Pea Family) Sambucus mexicana C. Presl ex DC. (blue elderberry) Astragalus filipes Torr. ex A. Gray (threadstalk milkvetch) Symphoricarpos albus (L.) S.F. Blake var. laevigatus Fernald (common Lupinus argenteus Pursh (silver lupine) snowberry) Lupinus latifolius J. Agardh (broad leaved lupine) Symphoricarpos mollis Nutt. (creeping snowberry) Lupinus lepidus Douglas ex Lindl. (dwarf lupine) CARYOPHYLLACEAE (Pink Family) Lupinus leucophyllus Douglas ex Lindl. (Eggleston’s lupine) Arenaria aculeata S. Watson (prickly sandwort) Lupinus polyphyllus Lindl. (meadow lupine) Arenaria capillaris Poir. (mountain sandwort) Trifolium longipes Nutt. (longstalk clover) Pseudostellaria jamesiana (Torr.) W.A. Weber & R.L. Hartman Vicia americana Muhl. ex Willd. var. americana (American vetch) (sticky chickweed) GENTIANACEAE (Gentian Family) Gentianopsis simplex (A. Gray) H.H. Iltis (one flowered gentian) GERANIACEAE (Geranium Family) Geranium viscosissimum Fisch. & C.A. Mey. ex C.A. Mey. (sticky geranium) GROSSULARIACEAE (Gooseberry Family) Ribes cereum Douglas (wax currant) Ribes erythrocarpum Cov. & Leib. (Crater Lake currant) Ribes montigenum McClatchie (mountain gooseberry) Ribes viscosissimum Pursh (sticky currant) HYDROPHYLLACEAE (Waterleaf Family) Hydrophyllum capitatum Douglas (ballhead waterleaf) Nemophilia pedunculata Douglas ex Benth (meadow nemophilia) Phacelia hastata Douglas ex Lehm. (silverleaf phacelia) Phacelia hydrophylloides A. Gray (waterleaf phacelia) HYPERICACEAE (St. John’swort Family) Hypericum anagalloides Cham. & Schltdl. (bog St. John’s wort) LAMIACEAE (Mint Family) Agastache urticifolia (Benth.) Kuntze (nettle leaved horsemint) Monardella odoratissima Benth. (coyote mint) MALVACEAE (Mallow Family) Sidalcea oregana (Nutt.) A. Gray (Oregon checker mallow) ONAGRACEAE (Evening Primrose Family) Chamerion (Epilobium) angustifolium (L.) Holub (fireweed) Epilobium obcordatum A. Gray (rose willowherb) Gayophytum diffusum Torr. & A. Gray ssp. diffusum (spreading Nuttall’s linanthus, a white-flowered forb that is widely distributed east of groundsmoke) the Cascades and Sierras, grows on the south side of the mountain in both PAEONIACEAE (Peony Family) forested and open sites. Photo by Ron Larson. Paeonia brownii Douglas ex Hook. (western peony)

Kalmiopsis Volume 14, 2007 25 Bistorta bistortoides (Pursh) Small (American bistort) Rumex acetosella L. (sheep sorrel) PORTULACACEAE (Purslane Family) Calyptridium (Spraguea) umbellatum (Torr.) Greene (pussypaws) Claytonia megarhiza (A.Gray) Parry ex S. Watson (alpine springbeauty) Lewisia nevadensis (A. Gray) B.L. Rob. ( lewisia) Lewisia pygmaea (A. Gray) B.L. Rob. (dwarf lewisia) Lewisia triphylla (S. Watson) B.L. Rob. (threeleaf lewisia) Montia linearis (Douglas ex Hook.) Greene (narrowleaf montia) PRIMULACEAE (Primrose Family) Dodecatheon alpinum (A. Gray) Greene (alpine shooting star) (Buttercup Family) Aconitum columbianum Nutt. var. columbianum (Columbia monkshood) Actaea rubra (Aiton) Willd. (western red baneberry) Aquilegia formosa Fisch. (red columbine) Caltha leptosepala DC. (marsh marigold) depauperatum Nutt. (slim larkspur) Delphinium nuttallianum Pritz. ex Walp. (upland larkspur) Ranunculus alismifolius Geyer (plaintain leaved buttercup) Ranunculus populago Greene (mountain buttercup) Thalictrum sparsiflorum Turcz. ex Fisher & C.A. Meyer (few flowered meadowrue) RHAMNACEAE (Buckthorn Family) Benth. (Mahala mat) Ceanothus velutinus Douglas ex Hook.(tobacco brush) Rhamnus alnifolia L’Hér. (alder buckthorn) ROSACEAE (Rose Family) Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. ex M. Roem. (western Pine white butterfly on rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa), August 28, 2005. Photo by Ron Larson. serviceberry) Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt. (curl-leaf mountain mahogany) Fragaria vesca L. (wood strawberry) FUMARIACEAE (Fumitory Family) Fragaria virginica Duchesne (broad petal strawberry) Dicentra uniflora Kellogg (steer’s head) Geum macrophyllum Willd. (large leaved avens) (Phlox Family) Holodiscus dumosus (Nutt. ex Hook) A. Heller (mountain spray) Collomia grandiflora Douglas ex Lindl. (large flowered collomia) Horkelia fusca Lindl. (pink pinwheels) Collomia linearis Nutt. (narrow leafed collomia) Potentilla glandulosa Lindl. (sticky cinquefoil) Collomia tinctoria Kellogg (yellow staining collomia) Potentilla gracilis Douglas ex Hook. (graceful cinquefoil) Ipomopsis aggregata (Pursh) V.E. Grant (scarlet gilia) Potentilla versicolor Rydb. (varying cinquefoil) Leptosiphon (Linanthus) bicolor (Nutt.) Jeps. (bicolored linanthus) Prunus emarginata (Douglas ex Hook) Walp. (bitter cherry) Leptosiphon (Linanthus) ciliatus (Benth.) Jeps. (wiskerbrush) Purshia tridentata (Pursh) DC. (bitterbush) Leptosiphon (Linanthus) harknessii (Curran) J.M. Porter & L.S. Rubus parviflorus Nutt. (thimbleberry) Johnson (three-seed linanthus) Sibbaldia procumbens L.(creeping sibbaldia) Leptosiphon (Linanthastrum) nuttallii (A.Gray) J.M. Porter & Sorbus scopulina Greene (Rocky Mountain mountain ash) L.S. Johnson (Nuttall’s linathastrum) RUBIACEAE (Madder Family) Linanthus (Leptodactylon) pungens (Torr.) J.M. Porter & L.S. Kelloggia galoides Torr. (kelloggia) Johnson (prickly phlox) SALICACEAE ( Family) Phlox diffusa Benth. (spreading phlox) Populus tremuloides Michx. (quaking aspen) Phlox gracilis (Hook.) Greene (slender phlox) SAXIFRAGACEAE (Saxifrage Family) Polemonium occidentale Greene (western Jacob’s ladder) Heuchera cylindrica Douglas ex Hook (roundleaf alumroot) POLYGONACEAE (Buckwheat Family) Lithophragma glabrum Nutt. (smooth fringecup) Eriogonum elatum Douglas ex Benth. (tall buckwheat) Lithophragma tenellum Nutt. (slender woodland star) Eriogonum nudum Douglas ex Benth. (bearstem buckwheat) Mitella pentandra Hook. (mitrewort) Eriogonum spergulinum A. Gray var. reddingianum (spurry Saxifraga nidifica Greene (nesting saxifrage) buckwheat) Saxifraga oregana Howell (Oregon saxifrage) Eriogonum umbellatum Torr. (sulphur flower buckwheat) SCROPHULARIACEAE (Figwort Family) Eriogonum vimineum Douglas ex Benth. (broom buckwheat) Castilleja applegatei Fernald (wavy leaf paintbrush) Oxyria digyna (L.) Hill ( mountain sorrel) Castilleja miniata Douglas ex Hook. (scarlet paintbrush)

26 Kalmiopsis Volume 14, 2007 *Castilleja chlorotica Piper (green-tinged paintbrush) IRIDACEAE (Iris Family) Collinsia parviflora Douglas ex Lindl.(small flowered blue-eyed Mary) Iris missouriensis Nutt. (western blueflag) Collinsia rattanii A. Gray (Rattan’s collinsia) Sisyrinchium idahoense E.P. Bicknell (Idaho blue eyed grass) Mimetanthe pilosa (Benth.) Greene (hairy monkeyflower) JUNCACEAE (Rush Family) Mimulus guttatus DC. (common yellow monkeyflower) Juncus mertensianus Bong. (Mertens’ rush) Mimulus moschatus Douglas ex. Lindl. (musk monkeyflower) Juncus orthophyllus Coville (straight leaved rush) Mimulus nanus Hook. & Arn. (dwarf monkeyflower) Luzula multiflora (Ehrh.) Lej. ssp. multiflora (common woodrush) Mimulus primuloides Benth. (primrose monkeyflower) Luzula spicata (L.) DC. (spiked woodrush) Pedicularis groenlandica Retz. (elephant’s head pedicularis) LILIACEAE (Lily Family) Penstemon davidsonii Greene var. davidsonii (Davidson’s penstemon) Allium campanulatum Wats. (Sierra onion) Penstemon deustus Douglas ex Lindl. (hotrock beardtongue) Allium tolmiei Baker var. tolmiei (Tolmie’s onion) *Penstemon glaucinus Pennell (blue leaved penstemon) Allium validum S. Watson (swamp onion) Penstemon laetus A. Gray var. roezlii (Roezli’s penstemon) Fritillaria atropurpurea Nutt. (chocolate lily) Penstemon rydbergii A. Nelson (Rydberg’s penstemon) Fritillaria pudica (Pursh) Spreng. (yellow bell) Synthyris missurica Pennell (western mountain kittentails) Lilium washingtonianum Kellogg (Washington lily) Veronica wormskjoldii Roem. & Schult. (American alpine speedwell) Maianthemum (Smilacina) racemosum (L.) Link (western Solomon SOLANACEAE (Nightshade Family) plume) Leucophysalis nana (A. Gray) Averett (dwarf chamaesaracha) Maianthemum (Smilacina) stellatum (L.) Link (starry false Solomon’s VALERIANACEAE (Valerian Family) seal) Valeriana californica A.Heller (California valerian) Triteleia (Brodiaea) hyacinthina (Lindl.) Greene (hyacinth brodiaea) Valeriana occidentalis A.Heller (western valerian) Veratrum californicum Durand (California false hellebore) VIOLACEAE (Violet Family) ORCHIDACEAE (Orchid Family) Viola glabella Nutt. ex Torr. & A. Gray (stream violet) Corallorhiza maculata (Raf.) Raf. (spotted coralroot) Viola macloskeyi Lloyd (small white violet) Goodyera oblongifolia Raf. (western rattlesnake plantain) Viola purpurea Kellogg (goosefoot violet) Listera caurina Piper (northwest twayblade) Viola vallicola A. Nelson (yellow valley violet) Piperia unalascensis (Sprengel) Rydb. ( rein orchid) Platanthera dilatata (Pursh) Lindl. ex Beck var. leucostachys (Lindl.) MONOCOTYLEDONS Leur (white bog orchid) CYPERACEAE (Sedge Family) Platanthera sparsiflora (S. Watson) Schltr. (sparse flowered bog orchid) Carex fracta Mack. (fragile-sheathed sedge) Platanthera stricta Lindl. (slender bog orchid) Carex inops L.H. Bailey (long-stolon sedge) Spiranthes romanzoffiana Cham. (hooded ladies tresses) Carex jonesii L.H. Bailey (Jones’ sedge) POACEAE (Grass Family) Scirpus microcarpus J. Presl & C. Presl (small-fruited sedge) Achnatherum occidentale (Thurb. ex S. Watson) Barkworth (western needlegrass) Agrostis scabra Willd. (winter bentgrass) Bromus carinatus Hook.& Arn. (California brome) Bromus orcuttianus Vasey var. orcuttianus (Orcutt’s brome) Deschampsia danthonioides (Trin.) Munro (annual hairgrass) Elymus elymoides (Raf.) Swezey (bottle brush squirreltail) Melica bulbosa Geyer ex Porter & J.M. Coult. (oniongrass) Muhlenbergia filiformis (Thurb. ex S. Warson) Rydb. (pullup muhly) Phleum alpinum L. (mountain timothy) Poa secunda J. Presl (Sandberg bluegrass)

Ron Larson received a BS from Oregon State University in 1969, and advanced degrees from universities in Canada and Puerto Rico. He is an aquatic biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Klamath Falls. Ron is a member of the Klamath Basin Chapter of NPSO and has led field trips including some to the Gearhart Mountain Wilderness. He is one of the coauthors of the recently-published book, Common Plants of the Upper Klamath Basin. Ron enjoys all aspects of native plants, including photography, gardening, and their identification. He spends his winters dreaming of mountain meadows filled with flowers and Common on dry, - or rock-dominated soils, prickly sandwort buzzing with bees. (Arenaria aculeata) forms a ring as the plant grows outward after the inner part dies. Photo by Ron Larson.

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